A man and belief that is revolutionary

This month we will celebrate the birth of a revolutionary. This past year we have seen many take the reputation as being revolutionaries. There were revolutionaries for civil rights and revolutionaries in the political realm.

However, the world doesn’t need any more people who want to dazzle and impress people. In my opinion, we need people who are willing to serve and use whatever gifts they have just for the sake of being a good person. It is hard for me to be in a small community sometimes. I want to help but also cover stories for the newspaper.

It’s tough for me think about what areas I can help in, too, because I’m young and quiet. I don’t have the experience that others have in the community.

I have seen a lot of great people come forward and help in this community.

But churches and others could still could do better at inviting people in that want to help. Churches and the world need to embrace those that are different.

I’ve been thinking about that as I get more involved in my church in Hill City and also what I used to do in college. I used to contribute time to service projects but now that I’m older and have a job I contribute money more.

It seems like there are a lot of great churches in Hill City. There are great events in Hill City too. But we also need to think of everybody. The young and the old, the rich and the poor. There is a hymn at my church that goes “Everybody’s got something to offer—young and old the prince and the pauper.” Everyone truly does have something to offer. Even if it’s just a kind gesture or kind greeting words. But it might be tough to always believe that.

I don’t think any man changed the world’s status quo more than Jesus did.

Steve Jobs also built Apple into a revolutionary company during the latter years he was CEO. After becoming the interim CEO in 1997 and then the full-time CEO three years later Jobs helped develop the iMac, Macbook, iPod, iPhone and iPad.

One of my favorite quotes of his is part of the 1997 Think Different campaign. It goes, “Here’s to the crazy ones, the misfits, the rebels, the troublemakers, the round pegs in the square holes … the ones who see things differently — they’re not fond of rules, and they have no respect for the status quo… You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them, but the only thing you can’t do is ignore them because they change things.”

Jesus changed things. He and Christians in general continually change people’s lives. He came for the misfits and those society looks down upon.

Shepherds were the first ones to hear that Jesus was born. This has significance because it showed how even before he was born Jesus was going to bring the rich and poor on the same level. Jesus was going to and did care for everybody.

People didn’t care for shepherds. It was much like ranchers or farmers today. They smelled because they were around sheep all day.

As an adult, Jesus’ company included tax collectors and prostitutes. Jesus did not show favoritism and He doesn’t today. He fought and died for those who didn’t have a place in the world before the crucifixion.

In a way, I think everybody has something in common with the people Jesus used to hang out with. If people are honest, there is brokenness in their lives.

It might not be great to think about but everybody has problems. Addiction, people they dislike and family turmoil.

I have always kept in the back of my mind that God doesn’t care about my past. We shouldn’t worry so much about who we were but who we are becoming. As we share our lives with other people let’s focus on the good.

We should also constantly be changing the status quo, challenging the staus quo. This Christmas season we should share with others and invite people of all backgrounds into our homes, churches and to our events.